SOLBAT

An all-solid-state battery would revolutionise the electric vehicles of the future. The successful implementation of an alkali metal negative electrode and the replacement of the flammable organic liquid electrolytes, currently used in Li-ion batteries, with a solid would increase the range of the battery, reduce recharging time and address the safety concerns. Current efforts to commercialise such batteries worldwide are failing and will continue to fail until we understand the fundamental processes taking place in these devices.

Considerable progress has been made over the first five years of the SOLBAT project, and recent funding until 2025 will support a focus on developing a deep understanding of the materials properties and mechanisms behind the premature short-circuiting and failure of solid-state batteries, a crucial step towards avoiding such events and realising the commercial potential of this technology.